| NEWSLETTER NO. 16 | OCTOBER 2000 |
Children Romp and Play After Annual Church Service
George Shaffer Wood, III
On Sunday, April 30th, the Society held its annual commemorative church service. This tradition is conducted in remembrance of the encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1777-78 and it honors the memory of those Society members who died during the year. The service was held at St. David's Episcopal Church in Wayne, followed by a reception at Waynesborough, the historic home of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne in Paoli.
Last row, Chairman George Wood, President Emertius Mark F. Lloyd, the Reverend William P. Proctor and President Curtis P. Cheyney, III. Foreground, Murray Gordon, his wife Lori and sons Richard, age 11 and Scott, age 9
The Evening Prayer service was officiated by the Reverend William Franklin Allen, Sr., Rector of St. David's and by the Reverend William Preston Proctor, Society Chaplain. The Color Guard, led by Captain Andrew Jackson Salisbury, II, presented and posted the Colors during the National Anthem. Reverend Proctor gave an inspiring sermon entitled "The Great Cloud of Witnesses," and featured personal references which always distinguish his sermons and render them interesting and applicable to the congregation.
Mark Frazier Lloyd read the Old Testament Lesson, and President Curtis Paul Cheyney, III delivered the Sermon Lesson. Jonathan Henry FitzGerald presented the Necrology. A highlight of the service was the music, beautifully enhanced by President Cheyney's selection of a trumpeter, which provided a pleasing and unique musical ambiance to the service.
Vice President James B. Burke's wife, Kathleen and triplets James, Elizabeth and Christopher, age 6
The reception was held under a tent adjacent to the handsome and historic Waynesborough. The weather was as perfect as the setting. Members and guests enjoyed the educational tours of the house, and delicious food and drink were plentiful. Attendance was higher than usual as there was a considerable increase in the number of children in attendance, a goal of the Society for this event. This increase was due to the efforts of Francis Joseph Bowden, III, former Chairman of the Younger Members Committee, who encouraged, via e-mail, the participation of our younger families-
The Society has a strong connection with Waynesborough as this facility has been loaned a number of items owned by the Society. John Marshall Groff, Society Historian, described a number of these artifacts to interested attendees, such as eighteenth century furniture, various instruments including a telescope, a surveyor's rod and chain, a rare brass surveyor's compass, and General Wayne's wine colored silk sash c. 1775. Some other interesting artifacts of General Wayne’s owned by the Society are on display at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. It is there you can see General Wayne's telescope, two English silver and steel dress swords, and most notably a medal presented to General Wayne by the United States Government in 1789.
Captain Andrew J Salisbury, III and the Color Guard
Through the sterling efforts of Winchell Smith Carroll, the Radnor Township Public Access Television station taped the church service and interviewed Society officers. It was aired daily at 5-00 PM for a week on Radnor Cable Channel 21. This tape afforded the Society an exceptional opportunity to share its purpose with the public, which is to preserve the memory of our selfless and distinguished Revolutionary War ancestors.
Kudos are extended to Chairman George Shaffer Wood, III, his Committee and especially to Barbara S. Wood for her invaluable counsel and assistance. Their efforts were much appreciated by the 138 adults and 28 children in attendance.
Arrangements for the Annual Church Service for 2001 have been made at St. George's Episcopal Church in Ardmore, a beautiful church in the English cathedral tradition. A reception is planned at Merion Golf Club, which boasts an outdoor patio area perfect for the younger children to enjoy. We took forward to seeing you there so look for the date in the next Newsletter!
